Expression of Asprosin and Gremlin-1 as novel biomarkers among type 2 Egyptian diabetic patients

Background: Diabetes has a significant negative influence on morbidity, mortality, and healthcare resources in Egypt. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disease. Asprosin and Gremlin-1 may have important roles in T2DM; however, their roles are still unclear and require more research. The purpose of the current study was to explore Asprosin and Gremlin-1&#039;s predictive roles in T2DM Egyptian patients and their relationships to clinical and laboratory results. Subjects and Methods: Samples were taken from 25 patients with type 2 DM and 25 healthy individuals. serum Asprosin and Gremlin-1 protein levels were determined using ELISA, and the peripheral blood expression of Asprosin and Gremlin-1 was assessed using quantitative real-time PCR. Results: Serum Asprosin level (S.Asprosin level), Asprosin expression, serum Gremlin-1 level (S.Gremlin-1 level) and Gremlin-1 expression were significantly higher among T2DM patients in comparison to controls (p<0.001). The best two markers were Asprosin expression and Gremlin-1 expression, which gave 96% sensitivity, 92% specificity, 92.3% positive predictive value (PPV), 95.8% negative predictive value (NPV), and 94% accuracy in the detection of T2DM. Asprosin expression and Gremlin-1 expression can be significantly associated with increased chance of developing T2DM by 276 folds. Conclusions: S.Asprosin level, Asprosin gene expression, S.Gremlin-1 level and Gremlin-1 gene expression were significantly higher among T2DM patients in comparison to controls. These markers were correlated with lipid profile and glycemic profile. The best two markers were Asprosin expression and Gremlin-1 expression in the detection of T2DM. Asprosin expression and Gremlin-1 expression seem to be predictors for T2DM.